I.C.T notes

Introduction to
Information and
Communication
Technology (GPD 113)
1

Designed to provide general computing
and 21st Century Functional literacy
skills to all students.
Specific course objectives are to provide
ICT foundations in:
1. Basic Computer Concepts and
Operations
2. Personal and professional use of
Computers
3. Information Literacy
4. Application of Computers in
Instruction

THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
The advent of the Information Society
The role of the computer as the
transforming agent in the information
society
Requisite skills for the Information Society

 Information: the result of
processing, manipulating and
organizing data in a way that adds to
the knowledge of the receiver
 Data is converted into information
using the information processing cycle
(IPC)which consists of four
operations:
input, process, output, and storage.

Concept originally introduced by John
Naisbitt in his book ―the Megatrends‖ –
1984
A society in which a majority of workers
are involved in the transmittal of
information
Information Society is a term for a society
in which the creation, distribution, and
manipulation of information has become
the most significant economic and cultural
activity.

A society characterized by a high level of
information intensity in the everyday life
of most citizens, in most organizations
and workplaces; by the use of common
or compatible technology for a wide
range of personal, social, educational
and business activities, and by the ability
to transmit, receive and exchange digital
data rapidly between places irrespective
of distance.
(IBM Community Development Foundation -
1997)

ECONOMIC TRANSITIONS
Economic
Era
Primary
Resource
Transforming
Agent
Tools
Needed
Skills Needed
to Function
Agrarian Land Natural
Energy
Plough, Hoe,
Farm
Equipment
Ploughing,
tilling
Sowing
Industrial Capital Processed
Energy (Oil,
Coal, Hydro)
Machines Technical
Engineering
Management
Information Mind Knowledge Computer Computer
Literacy
Information
Literacy
Visual
Literacy

―In an information society, education is no
mere amenity; it is the prime tool for
growing people and profits.‖
―In a world that is constantly changing,
there is no one subject or set of subjects
that will serve you for the foreseeable
future, let alone for the rest of your life.
The most important skill to acquire now is
learning how to learn.‖

―We are drowning in information but
starved for knowledge.‖
―Intuition becomes increasingly valuable in
the new information society precisely
because there is so much data.‖
John Naisbitt

THE DIGITALAND ICT REVOLUTIONS
Technological advancement have
revolutionized communication and spread
of information.
Landmarks:
In 1875, for example, the invention of the
telephone breached distance through
sound.
Between 1910 and 1920, the first AM radio
stations began to broadcast sound.
By the 1940s television was broadcasting
both sound and visuals

In 1943, the world’s first electronic
computer was created.
Microprocessor invented in the 1970s and
computers became accessible to the public.
In the 1990s, the Internet migrated from
universities and research institutions to
corporate headquarters and homes.

CONSEQUENCES OF DIGITALAND ICT
REVOLUTIONS
 Better and cheaper access to knowledge
and information. This speeds up
transactions and processes and reduces
their cost, which in turn benefit citizens
and consumers.
 The ability of ICTs to traverse time and
distance allows human beings to interact
with each other in new ways. Distance is no
longer a consideration.

Emerging Information Economy
where the productivity and
competitiveness of units or agents
in the economy (be they
firms, regions or nations) depend
mainly on their capacity to
generate, process, and apply
efficiently knowledge-based
information

FEATURES OF THE INFORMATION
ECONOMY
 The information economy is global.
has the capacity to work as a unit in real time
on a planetary scale
Corporations and firms now have a worldwide
base for skilled labor to tap from
it is highly productive
profits come from speed of innovation and the
ability to attract and keep customers
N.B. Information economy is the same as
―knowledge economy‖, the ―new
economy‖, or the ―network economy‖

WHAT ARE ICTS ?
 ICTs stand for information and
communication technologies
 Diverse set of technological tools
and resources are used to
communicate, and to create,
disseminate, store, and manage
information
 These technologies include
computers, the Internet,
broadcasting technologies
(radio and television), and
telephony
Internet

Technology/Computer Literacy –
Why Is It Necessary in the
Information Age?

ICT LITERACY ..
Computers are everywhere
Businesses
Government
Education
We live in Global Village
We are part of the Information
network
Technology for students is about
economic competitiveness

What is a computer?
6/28/2013 11:16:01 PM Computers; Tool For Our Generation! 19

A computer is an electronic
device which accepts
data, processes the data, stores
and produces the result as
information under the
direction of a stored program
of instructions with speed and
accuracy.

Computers are useless.
They can only give you
answers.
Pablo Picasso, 1968

 Data consists of raw facts, which the
computer can manipulate and process into
information that is useful to people.
 Computerized data is digital, meaning that
it has been reduced to digits, or numbers.
The computer stores and reads all data as
numbers.
 Although computers use data in digital
form, they convert data into forms that
people can understand, such as text,
numerals, sounds, and images.
DATA

Information is data with a meaning.
The result of processing, manipulating and
organizing data in a way that adds to the
knowledge of the receiver
24

Technology can be defined as the
application of scientific principles in
producing machines or tools to better
the life of mankind.
the way in which scientific discoveries
about the principles of flight allowed
the technological development of the
airplane is one example of technology.

Information Technology
I.T. (in short) is the means by
which science is used in the
collection, processing, storage
and movement of information.

Information Communication
Technology (I.C.T.)
The combination of computer-
based technologies and
telecommunication technology for
the purpose of gathering data or
information, processing
data, sharing and disseminating
information from one place to
another.

Data Processing
INPUT
(DATA)
PROCESSING OUTPUT
(INFORMATION)
Turning data into information is called processing.
It involves a set of logically related tasks that is
performed by the computer to achieve a defined
outcome.

6/28/2013 11:16:01 PM
Processing
Internal
Memory
Output
Input
•Keyboard
•Mouse
•Monitor
•Printer
Secondary
Storage

Information Procession Cycle

Advantages of Computers
Does offer the promise of improvement in
people's work-related lives.
Can facilitate the upgrading of jobs.
Removal of the boring, tedious, and
repetitive aspects of our job activities.
Can leave workers with the more
interesting and rewarding components of
their jobs.
Improves quality of work as workers
incorporate computers in their work.

WHY IS A COMPUTER SO
POWERFUL?
A computer is described as the ‖wonder‖
machine because it processes data with:
 Speed
 Reliability
 Accuracy
 It also stores and retrieves data; and
 It provides for communications via
 Network;
 Electronic mail

Classification of Computers
Computers are available in different
shapes, sizes and weights, and they are used
for different purposes.
Computers can be classified according to
following:
Classification by Purpose
Classification by Capacity and size
Classification by Nature / Type

Classification by Purpose
They are designed to perform restricted
number of tasks. E.g. solving a problem
or doing a particular job.
 Classification by purpose is grouped
into two,
 Specific purpose.
 General purpose

Special / Specific purpose.
 The special-purpose Computers are
designed to perform a specific task.
 Examples: Digital Calculators, Traffic
lights, ATM, Digital watches.

General-Purpose Computers
By definition a general-purpose-
computer can solve any problem.
For example they can be used to write
letters and play games.

CLASSIFICATION BY
CAPACITY AND SIZE
 Computers are grouped according to their
physical size, speed, storage
capacity, cost, and the livewire (users) at a
time.
Examples are
 supercomputers,
 mainframe computers,
 mini computers,
 micro computers.

Supercomputers
Supercomputers were first introduces in the
1970s.
Supercomputers are mostly used for scientific
work that requires huge numbers of
calculations
They are the largest, fastest and highest-
capacity computers, which cost millions of
dollars. It can process trillions of instructions
in seconds.
They are designed to occupy special air-
conditioned rooms and are used for
research, worldwide weather forecasting, oil
explorations, aircraft designs and others.
These computers are designed to process huge
amount of data.

Supercomputers

Mainframe Computers
 Mainframe Computers were introduced in the late
1960s.
 They are very large often taking up as much space as a
classroom.
 They can store great amounts of information
 They are normally used by banks, airlines, large
businesses, government agencies and universities. For
instances, in the developed
 Countries, universities use mainframe computers to
schedule their students and record grades.
 Mainframe computers can do a lot of different jobs at
one time.
 Mainframes have the ability to run (or "host")
multiple operating systems
 The CPU speed of mainframes has historically been
measured in millions of instructions per second.

Mainframe Computers

Minicomputers
 These kinds of computers came in late
1950s.
 They are much smaller than mainframe
computers.
 Minicomputers are often larger in size
than Personal Computers.
 They have terminals connected to them in
the same room or building.

Microcomputers
Microcomputers can handle more inputs
and outputs than personal computers.
They are small, inexpensive computers
They are easily moved around
Such computers can do only one work / job
at a time
Terminals cannot be connected to them.
Examples of microcomputers
Desktop, Network
computers, Laptop, Palmtop computers
(palmtops are sometimes called Personal
Digital Assistant) PDAs, Tablets

 Microcomputers

CLASSIFICATION BY NATURE / TYPE
 Under classification by nature /
type, computers are grouped into how
data is presented.
 Data is presented in three main ways
namely
◦ Analog,
◦ Digital,
◦ Hybrid.

Digital Computers use digital signal which are
continuous and expressed as electrical pulses.
A digital computer is composed of five distinct
elements:
 (1) processing unit;
 (2) input devices;
 (3) memory storage devices;
 (4) output devices; and
 (5) a communications network; called a
bus, which links all the elements of the system
and connects the system to the external world.
Examples of digital computers include:
Supercomputers, Mainframe
Computers, Minicomputers, Workstations, and
Microcomputers.

Analog Computers operate on data in the
form of continuous variable
physical quantities.
Example: temperature and pressure.
These kinds of computers also
represent their signals in a continuous
electrical signal in the form of waves.

Hybrid Computers combine the
capabilities of both digital and analogue
computers.

THE PARTS OF A COMPUTER
SYSTEM
Hardware
Software
Users
Data

PARTS OF A COMPUTER
The two main parts of a
computer are the machine itself
(hardware) and the human
provided logic (software) that
directs the machine.

Hardware Components
Input devices
Output devices
System unit
Storage devices
Communications devices

Hardware
System
unit
Monitor
Keyboard Mouse
Speakers

speaker
(output)
speaker
(output)
keyboard (input)
mouse
(input)microphone
(input)
monitor
(output)
system unit
(processing, memory,
and storage)
PC camera
(input)
digital camera
(input)
modem
(communications)
miscellaneous
storage
devices
hard drive
(storage)

printer
(output)
scanner
(input)

The Hardware
 Input Units
◦ Keyboard
◦ Mouse
◦ Punched cards
◦ Optical Character Recognition
◦ Barcodes
 Output Units
◦ Monitors Printers
◦ Scanners Plotters
 Secondary Storage
◦ Magnetic tapes
◦ Discs (BluRay, DVDs, CDs, Flash discs)

What Are Input Devices?
 Any hardware component that
allows you to enter
data, programs, commands, and
user responses into a computer

WHAT ARE INPUT DEVICES?
 The Keyboard: it is the primary input device
 A standard computer keyboard has 105 keys.
 Most keyboards use the QWERTY layout, named
for the first six keys in the top row of letters.
Typing area
Numeric keypad
Toggle keys
Status lights
Arrow keys - arrow control keys
Function keys
Specialized buttons
Wireless keyboards

KEYBOARD
 Alphanumeric Keys

KEYBOARD
 Enter (Return) Key

KEYBOARD
 ―Modifier‖ keys:
CTRL, ALT, SHIFT

KEYBOARD
 ―State‖ keys:
Caps, Scroll, Numlock

ERGONOMIC KEYBOARDS
Long periods of keyboard use can
cause injuries.
An ergonomically correct keyboard
can help you avoid injuries.
You also can avoid injuries by
adopting correct keyboarding
practices.

HOW A KEYBOARD WORKS
When a key is pressed, the following things
happen:
The keyboard controller detects the
keystroke.
The controller places a scan code in the
keyboard buffer, indicating which key
was pressed.
The keyboard sends the computer an
interrupt request, telling the CPU to accept
the keystroke.

Pointing Devices: An input device that
allows you to control a pointer on the
screen.
The mouse can be used to issue
commands, draw, and perform other
types of input tasks.
Optical mouse
Cordless mouse

Moving the mouse pointer
Start menu
Clicking
Dragging
Hilighting
Double-clicking

MOUSE
Holding the mouse
 Grip between thumb and
ring finger
 (Right handed grip
shown, Lefties use other
hand)

Mouse
Double clicking
 Use the left side
 Click twice in quick
succession

MOUSE
 Scroll wheel and
optional buttons

Touchpad and Pointing Stick
Touchpad – small, flat, rectangular
pointing device that is sensitive to
pressure and motion
Pointing Stick – pressure-sensitive
pointing device shaped like a pencil eraser
Trackball: Like a mouse, but the ball is
on top often used on portable computers

Joystick: Uses the movement of a
vertical lever. Often used with games

Touch screen: Monitor has a touch sensitive
panel.
Used to issue simple commands or choose from
a list of options

Optical Readers: Use light to read
characters, marks, and codes and then
converts them into digital data that
can be processed by a computer
Optical character recognition (OCR)
Optical mark recognition (OMR)
Bar code

Optical Scanner : Electronically
captures an entire page of text or
images . Converts text or image into
digital data than can be stored and
used

Digital Cameras : Allow users to take
pictures and store the photographed
images digitally. Users can download
or transfer pictures to a computer

Audio and Video Input
Audio input
Sound card
Speech Recognition
Video input
Video capture card

Input Devices for Handheld Computers
 Stylus
 Voice Input
 Portable keyboard
 On screen keyboard

OUTPUT DEVICES
Monitors
Screen housed in a plastic or metal
case
Variety of sizes
Cathode ray tube (CRT)
Pixels (resolution)
LCD (liquid crystal display)
monitors

 Printers
An output device that produces text and
graphics on a physical medium such as paper or
transparency film
Hard copy (printout)
Portrait vs. landscape
Printing requirements vary
 Impact Printers
Printing mechanism strikes paper, ribbon and
character together
Not usually high quality
Dot matrix printers
Continuous form paper

 Nonimpact Printers
Do not strike paper
Much quieter
Ink-jet printers
Spray tiny drops of ink onto the paper
Both black-and-white and color

Laser printers
High-speed, high-quality nonimpact
printer
Very high quality resolution - 300dpi to
1,200 dpi

Data Projectors
Allows an audience to view output
LCD projectors
Digital light processing (DLP) projector

Facsimile (Fax) Machine
Used to transmit and receive an image of
a document over a phone line
Stand-alone
Fax modem

Multifunction Devices
Can print, scan, copy and fax
Less space
Lower cost than separate units

Audio Output
Speakers
Headsets

STORAGE DEVICES
 The media on which data, instructions and pieces of
information are kept
 Secondary storage is memory outside the CPU and
Internal memory. Mostly needed because of limited
amount of memory and volatility of RAM.
 For most media, Capacity is measured in bytes.
[mega, giga, tera etc.]
 Formatting
 Storage devices include:
 Compact Discs (CDs) [CD-R and CD-RW]
 Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs)
 Flash drives
 Hard Disks

BLU-RAY DISC
 Designed to supersede the DVD format.
 The plastic disc is the same size as DVDs and CDs.
 Conventional Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per
layer, with dual layer discs (50 GB) being the industry
standard for feature-length video discs.
 Triple layer discs (100 GB) and quadruple layers (128
GB) are available for BD-XL re-writer drives.
 The major application of Blu-ray Discs is as a medium
for video material such as feature films.
 The first Blu-ray Disc prototypes were unveiled in
October 2000, and the first prototype player was
released in April 2003 in Japan.
 Its official release was in June 2006.
 The name Blu-ray Disc refers to the blue laser used to
read the disc, which allows information to be stored at a
greater density than is possible with the longer-
wavelength red laser used for DVDs.

ORGANIZATION OF DATA ON
STORAGE
Information is stored as File (under a file
name).
Files are either program files or data files
A file is divided into records.
Records are subdivided into fields.
Record lengths can be fixed or variable.
Files are accessible either through direct
access (disks) or sequential access.

HARDWARE SUMMARY
Describe the system unit
Identify the major components of the
system unit and explain their functions
Explain how the CPU uses the four steps
of a machine cycle to process data
Define a bit and describe how a series of
bits are used to represent data

THE COMPONENTS OF THE
SYSTEM UNIT
The Motherboard
Contains many of the electronic
components
Chip: A small piece of semiconducting
material on which one or more integrated
circuits are etched
Central Processing Unit: Interprets and
carries out the basic instructions that
operate a computer
Internal Memory: There are two
compartments of memory; Read Only
Memory (ROM) and Random Access
Memory (RAM)

PROGRAM EXECUTION
Control
unit
ALU
Memory
1. Fetch
instructions
2. Command to
send data to ALU
3. Execute
Instruction
4. Results
2. Decode
instructions

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
 The Central Processing Unit is the brain of the
computer
 It is made up of the Control Unit (directs all
operations), The Arithmetic-Logic Unit (carries
out actual manipulations), and the Internal
Memory
 All three parts are stored on an electronic device
called microchip or simply the chip.
 Elements of the chip are transistors connected
together in circuits called Integrated Circuits.
 Registers are high speed memory devices located
in the ALU to hold data

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT
CONTROL
UNIT
ARITHMETIC
LOGIC
UNIT
INTERNAL
MEMORY
INPUT OUTPUT
SECONDARY
STORAGE
FLOW OF DATA
FLOW OF INSTRUCTIONS
FLOW OF CONTROL
SLOW
SLOW
FAST
SLOW
slow

CONTROL UNIT
 The control unit is responsible for
fetching, decoding and executing instructions
stored in the internal memory of the computer
 The control unit begins the execution process by
going through the following steps:
1. Fetch the instruction from internal memory
and store in a register.
2. Decode the instruction and have data sent to
the ALU when necessary.
3. Commands ALU to carry out the decoded
instruction using data received.
4. Send results of ALU operations to internal
memory.
5. Continue with the process as outlined above
until all instructions are carried out.

ARITHMETIC LOGIC UNIT
Responsible for performing arithmetic and
logical operations
Performs the execution part of the machine
cycle
Arithmetic
(addition, subtraction, multiplication, divis
ion)
Comparison (greater than, equal to, less
than)
Logical (AND, OR, NOT)

Synchronizes all computer operations
Each tick is called a clock cycle
Faster clock means the CPU can
execute more instructions each
second
Speed measured in megahertz (MHz)
One million ticks of the system
clock
THE SYSTEM CLOCK

MEMORY
Computer s memory is also known as
Internal Memory or Main Memory.
Used to store data, instructions, and
information (e.g. The operating system and
other system software, Application
programs, Data being processed by
application programs)
Bytes are stored at specific locations or
addresses
The two primary types of internal memory
are: ROM, RAM

READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM)
Storage is accomplished by permanent
switches in a chip – fast memory
Information stored is permanent and
cannot be erased or modified.
Contents not lost when the computer is
turned off. (said to be non-volatile).
Usually contains instructions that
allows user`s programs to begin
(BOOTSTRAP) after system disk is
inserted
Instructions on ROM are referred to
as FIRMWARE because the
manufacturer ‖burned‖ the
instructions on the chip

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
(RAM)
 Storage is accomplished by use of ‖flip-flops‖
(miniature transistors)
 Storage is said to be VOLATILE because items on
RAM disappear when power is turned off
 RAM Chips are Smaller in size than processor
chips
 The chips are packaged on circuit boards called
single inline memory modules (SIMMs) or dual
inline memory modules (DIMMs)
 Amount of RAM is discussed in terms of
Kilobytes, Megabytes and Gigabytes

RAM – HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?
The more RAM, the more
programs and files a computer can
work on at simultaneously
Software developers usually
indicate how much RAM is
required
Necessary RAM depends on what
type of work the computer is used
for

MEMORY…BITS AND BYTES
Basic Unit of Measure in a computer is
the Bit (contraction of Binary and
Digit).
A Bit represents a switch and can be in
one of two states, on or off.
A group of 8 Bits is called a Byte.
Computers combines bytes to
represent large numbers (and
symbols).

8 bits = 1 byte
1024 Bytes = 1Kb (Kilobytes)
1024 Kb = 1 Mb (Megabytes)
1024 Mb = 1 Gb (Gigabyte)
The size of a computer`s RAM contributes
to ‖how fast it processes data‖.

Size of memory is measured by the
number of bytes available

OTHER TYPES OF MEMORY
PROM – Programmable ROM. This kind
allows the user to program initial
instructions (―burn in‖ the chips special
instructions).
EPROM – Erasable Programmable Read
Only Memory.
Bubble Memory is used in RAM to avoid
volatility.
Use of Batteries to power RAM in case of
power failures

REPRESENTATION OF
SYMBOLS
Symbols are represented according to
patterns of bits.
Two most commonly used pattterns are:
EBCDIC - Extended Binary Coded
Decimal Interchange Code
ASCII – American Standard Code for
Information Interchange
Both patterns use 8 bits (1 byte) to
represent a symbol

REPRESENTATION OF
SYMBOLS
Char EBCDIC ASCII
1 1111 0001 0011 0001
2 1111 0010 0011 0010
3 1111 0011 0011 0011
A 1100 0001 0100 0001
B 1100 0010 0100 0010
C 1100 0011 0100 0011
a 1000 0001 0110 0001
b 1000 0010 01100 010

THE AMAZING CHIP
The Chip is an integrated circuit (IC)
consisting of thousands of electronic
elements packed into a small area on tiny
piece of silicon (size of a SIM card).
Connectors are etched onto
semiconductors.
First came to prominence when used in
calculators.
Used in many ―computerized ―
devices, microwave ovens, cameras, mobile
phones, television sets to direct their
operations. 6/28/2013 11:16:01 PM Computers; Tool For Our Generation! 125

 Chips are used in computers for the following
reasons:
Speed: because distances between connectors
are infinitesimal.
Size: because they take up small space.
Reduce Power Requirements: Vacuum tubes
used in earlier computer failed because required
large amounts of electricity and generated lots
of heat.
Economic Factors: Vacuum tubes used in
computers were expensive to build and
expensive to operate.
Reliability: Vacuum tubes failed every 15
minutes while chips once thoroughly tested
rarely failed. 6/28/2013 11:16:01 PM Computers; Tool For Our Generation! 126

OTHER ITEMS - SYSTEM
UNIT
Expansion Slots and Expansion Cards
Expansion slot
An opening, or socket, where a circuit board
can be inserted into the motherboard
Used to add new devices or capabilities to the
computer
Expansion card
Circuit boards, such as a modem or graphics
card, that add new capabilities to the
computer

Common types of Expansion Slots
and Expansion Cards are:
Video card
Sound card
Internal modem
PC Cards
Plug and Play

OTHER ITEMS - SYSTEM UNIT...
Ports and Connectors
Port
Point of attachment to the system unit
Usually on the back of the computer
Connectors
Used to plug into ports
• Male connectors
• Female connectors

SOFTWARE:
BRINGING THE
MACHINE TO LIFE
 What is Software?
 System Software
 Application Software.

A series of instructions that tells the
hardware of a computer how to
perform tasks
A set of instructions is often called a
program
Software comes stored on various
storage media
Software (programs) must be installed
After installation programs are
executed

There are two types of computer
software
System software: Programs designed
to control the hardware. e.g.
operating systems (Microsoft
Windows, Mac OS, Unix, Linux)
, Utility programs
Application software: Programs
designed for the user to perform
specific tasks

APPLICATION
SOFTWARE
SYSTEM
SOFTWARE

SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software exists primarily for the
computer itself, to help the computer
perform specific functions.
One major type of system software is the
operating system (OS). All computers
require an operating system.
The OS tells the computer how to interact
with the user and its own devices.
Common operating systems include
Windows, the Macintosh OS, UNIX and
LINUX

UTILITY PROGRAMS
 A utility is a program that performs a task that is not
typically handled by the operating system.
 Utility programs assist the computer in operating various
hardware components attached to the computer.
 Some utility programs (drivers) usually come with the
hardware (e.g. Printer) and must be loaded in order for
proper operation of the device
 Some utilities enhance the OS functionality.
 Some of the major categories of utilities include:
 File defragmentation
 Data compression
 Backup
 Antivirus
 Screen savers

Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
GUI Tools
Applications and the Interface
Menus
Dialog Boxes
Command-Line Interfaces
THE USER INTERFACE

GRAPHICAL USER
INTERFACE
 Most modern operating systems, like Windows and
the Macintosh OS, provide a graphical user interface
A GUI lets you control the system by using a mouse to
click graphical objects on screen.
 A GUI is based on the desktop metaphor. Graphical
objects appear on a background (the
desktop), representing resources you can use.
 Controls how data is entered and how information is
presented on the screen
 Combines text, graphics, and other visual cues to
make software easier to use
 provides for easy manipulations of system through
the use of the pointing device and icons (pictures that
represent computer resources)

Applications designed to run under one
operating system use similar interface
elements.
Under an OS such as Windows, you see a
familiar interface no matter what programs
you use.
In a GUI, each program opens and runs in
a separate window—a frame that presents
the program and its documents.
In a GUI, you can run multiple programs
at once, each in a separate window. The
application in use is said to be the active
window. 6/28/2013 11:16:01 PM Computers; Tool For Our Generation! 140

GUI-based programs let you issue
commands by choosing them from menus.
A menu groups related commands. For
example, the File menu's commands let you
open, save, and print document files.
Menus let you avoid memorizing and
typing command names.
In programs designed for the same
GUI, menus and commands are similar
from one program to another.

DIALOG BOXES
A dialog box is a special window that
appears when a program or the OS needs
more information before completing a
task.
Dialog boxes are so named because they
conduct a "dialog" with the
user, asking the user to provide more
information or make choices.

Icons
Start menu
Start button
Taskbar
Desktop
Dialog box
Program
running in
a window
Window control buttons

Title bar
Menu bar
Toolbar
Scroll bar
Minimize button

APPLICATION SOFTWARE
These are programs designed to perform a
specific task
There are five major categories of application
software:
As a productivity / business tool
Supporting school and professional activities
Assisting with graphics and multimedia
projects
Helping with home and personal activities
Facilitating communications

COMMAND-LINE INTERFACES
Some older operating systems, such as DOS
and UNIX, use command-line interfaces.
In a command-line interface, you type
commands at a prompt.
Under command-line interfaces, individual
applications do not need to look or function
the same way, so different programs can
look very different

RUNNING PROGRAMS -
BASIC SERVICES
The operating system manages all the other
programs that run on the PC.
The operating system provides services to
programs and the user, including file
management, memory management, and
printing
To provide services to programs, the OS
makes system calls—requesting other
hardware and software resources to
perform tasks.

RUNNING PROGRAMS -
SHARING INFORMATION
Some operating systems, such as
Windows, enable programs to share
information.
You can create data in one program and
use it again in other programs without
re-creating it.
Windows provides the Clipboard, a special
area that stores data cut or copied from
one document, so you can re-use it
elsewhere.

RUNNING PROGRAMS -
MULTITASKING
Multitasking is the capability of running
multiple processes simultaneously.
A multitasking OS lets you run multiple
programs at the same time.
Through multitasking, you can do several
chores at one time, such as printing a
document while downloading a file from
the Internet.
There are two types of multitasking:
cooperative and preemptive.

COOPERATIVE MULTITASKING
Applications voluntarily cede time to one
another.
Was once the scheduling scheme employed by
Microsoft Windows (prior to Windows 95 and
Windows NT) and Mac OS (prior to Mac OS
X) in order to enable multiple applications to
be run simultaneously.
Now rarely used in larger systems
Because a cooperatively multitasked system
relies on each process regularly giving up time
to other processes on the system, one poorly
designed program can consume all of the CPU
time for itself or cause the whole system to
hang.

PREEMPTIVE MULTITASKING
 Allows the computer system to guarantee more reliably each
process a regular "slice" of operating time.
 It also allows the system to deal rapidly with important external
events like incoming data, which might require the immediate
attention of one or another process.
 At any specific time, processes can be grouped into two
categories: those that are waiting for input or output (called
"I/O bound"), and those that are fully utilizing the CPU ("CPU
bound").
 In primitive systems, the software would often "poll", or
"busywait" while waiting for requested input (such as
disk, keyboard or network input). During this time, the system
was not performing useful work. With the advent of interrupts
and preemptive multitasking, I/O bound processes could be
"blocked", or put on hold, pending the arrival of the necessary
data, allowing other PROCESSES to utilize the CPU. As the
arrival of the requested data would generate an
interrupt, blocked processes could be guaranteed a timely
return to execution.

MANAGING FILES
 The operating system keeps track of all the files
on each disk.
 Users can make file management easier by
creating a hierarchical file system that includes
folders and subfolders arranged in a logical order.

MANAGING HARDWARE
The OS uses interrupt requests (IRQs) to
maintain organized communication with
the CPU and other pieces of hardware.
Each hardware device is controlled by a
piece of software, called a driver, which
allows the OS to activate and use the
device.
The operating system provides the software
necessary to link computers and form a
network.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
 Name four components found in most graphical
user interfaces.
 Describe the operating system’s role in running
software programs.
 Explain how the OS enables users to manage
files.
 List three hardware management tasks
performed by an OS.
 Name five types of utility software.

WORD PROCESSING SOFTWARE
Used to create, edit, and format textual documents
Formatting features
 Font and font size
 Color
 Borders
 Clip art
 Margins
 Wordwrap
 Scrolling
Editing features
 Find or search
 Replace
 Spell checker
Other features
Headers
Footers
Templates
Wizards

SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE
 Allows you to organize data in rows and
columns, collectively called a worksheet or
spreadsheet
 Worksheet has up to 256 columns and 65,536 rows
 Cell - Intersection of a row and a column
Labels
Values
 Calculations
Formula - Performs calculations on data in the
worksheet and displays the results in a cell
Function – A predefined formula that performs
commonplace calculations
 Charts: Graphically illustrates the relationship of

DATABASE SOFTWARE
 A Database is a collection of data organized in a
manner that allows access, retrieval, and use of
that data
 Database Organization
Database file
Records
Fields
 Developing a database
Determine data that you want to keep track of
Define the fields
Enter the data
Use the database to produce information

PRESENTATION GRAPHICS
SOFTWARE
Allows you to create documents called
presentations which are used to
communicate ideas, messages, and other
pieces of information to a group
Predefined formats - define colors and
other elements for backgrounds, text, and
other items on the slides
Various slide layouts
Clip art / image gallery
Slide sorter

OTHER PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE
Software Suite and Integrated Software
Collection of individual application
software packages sold as a single
package
Lower cost
Ease of use: Common interface
Personal Information Managers
Software application that includes an
appointment calendar, address book, and
notepad to help organize appointments
and task lists

Software Suite
Integrated Software
Package

GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
SOFTWARE
Desktop Publishing Software
Allows you to produce sophisticated documents
that contain text, graphics, and brilliant colors
Page layout - arranging text and graphics in a
document
Paint/Image Editing Software
Allows you to draw pictures, shapes, and other
graphical images using various tools on the
screen
Image editing software: Modify existing
graphics

Video and Audio Editing Software
Modify a segment of a
video, known as a clip
Add and remove clips
Add special effects
Sounds
Banners
Credits

 Clip Art/Image Gallery
Collection of clip art and photographs
Miscellaneous items
Fonts
Animations
Sounds
Video and audio clips
 Multimedia Authoring Software
Used to create electronic interactive
presentations that include
text, video, audio, and animation
Often used in education
Delivered via CD-ROM or DVD-ROM

Web Page Authoring Software
Allows you to create Web pages and
organize, manage, and maintain Web sites
Many packages allow creation of Web
pages
Word processing programs allow creation
of web pages
Web Page Authoring Software
Popular packages
Microsoft FrontPage
Netscape Composer
Adobe GoLive
Macromedia Dreamweaver

SOFTWARE FOR SCHOOLAND
PROFESSIONAL USE
 School and Student Management Software
School management software
Centralized program that allows district and school
personnel to manage school district operations
Student management software
Allows administrators, teachers, and other staff to
track information on students
 Educational/Reference
Educational software
Software designed for the learning environment
Reference software
Provides valuable and thorough information for
everyone in an educational setting and in the family

Special Needs Software
Software designed for students with
physical impairments or learning
disabilities
Examples
Speech synthesis software
Software with text enlargement
features
Talking software

SOFTWARE FOR HOME AND
PERSONAL USE
 Personal Finance Software
Simplified accounting program
Track personal income and expenses
Track investments
Online banking and investing
 Tax Preparation Software
Guides individuals, families, or small businesses
through the process of filing federal and state taxes
Offer money saving tax tips
Prints tax forms
 Legal Software: Assists in preparation of legal
documents and provides legal advice
 Personal Computer Entertainment Software

LEARNING AIDS AND SUPPORT
TOOLS
 Online help
 Trade books
 FAQs
 Tutorials

SOFTWARE VERSIONS AND
UPGRADES
Software programs are designated a
version number
Upgrade is a new version designed to
replace an older version
Older version of software usually will
not open files created with the newer
version
Determine software version with the
software’s About command

How to Purchase,
Install,
and Maintain
a Personal Computer

HOW TO PURCHASE
A PERSONAL COMPUTER
 Determine what application software products you will
use on your computer
 Be sure the computer comes with the features necessary
to run applications for the tasks you wish to perform
 Before buying a computer system, do some research
 Consider:
Processor speed
Memory and storage
Input and output
Communications devices
Software
Overall system cost

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of
your purchasing options (for new computers):
School bookstore
Local computer dealer
Local large retail store
Mail / telephone order
Internet sales
If you are buying a used computer, stick with
name brands
Longer, more comprehensive warranties
More repair centers
More computer support
Compare computers with similar features

 Be aware of hidden costs
Uninterruptible power supply
Computer furniture
Maintenance
Computer training classes
Consider more than just price
Vendor’s time in business
Vendor’s regard for quality
Vendor’s reputation for support
Old computer buy back
Leasing arrangement

Buy a system compatible with the ones you
use elsewhere. E. g. Your home computer
should be the same type (not necessarily
brand) you use at school or work
Consider purchasing an onsite service
agreement. Ideal for individuals who
cannot afford to be without their computer
Avoid buying the smallest system available
Technology changes rapidly
Many users regret not buying a more powerful
system
Plan to buy a system that will last two or three
years
Make sure smaller systems are easily
upgradeable

HOW TO PURCHASE
A HANDHELD COMPUTER
Determine the applications you plan to run
on your handheld computer
What do you want to pay?
Compare battery life
Is synchronization of data with other
handheld computers, personal
computers, or printers important?
e-mail and Web access from your handheld
computer

Check out the accessories
Carrying cases
Portable keyboards
Removable storage
Car chargers
GPS systems
Dashboard mounts
Replacement styli
Synchronization cradles

HOW TO INSTALL
A PERSONAL COMPUTER
 Read the installation manuals before you start to
install your equipment. This Saves a great deal of
time and frustration
 Do some research
Locate additional installation instructions
Review computer magazines or Web sites for
articles on installation
 Set up your computer in a well-designed work
area, with adequate workspace around the computer
Ergonomics
Good lighting
Air quality

While working at your computer, be aware of
health issues
Document holder
Illuminate your entire work area
Take frequent breaks
Incorporate stretching exercises
Save all the paperwork that comes with your
system
Obtain a computer tool set
Handy if you need to work on your
computer
Computer dealers and office supply stores
carry these

Record the serial numbers of all your
equipment and software
Write serial numbers on the manuals
Keep a comprehensive list of the serial
numbers of all your equipment and software
Complete and send in your equipment and
software registration cards
Saves time with technical support
Makes you eligible for special pricing on
software upgrades
Install your system in an area where you can
maintain the temperature and humidity. High
temperatures and humidity can damage
electronic components

COMPUTER LITERACY
An understanding of what a
computer can and cannot do
and the ability to make the
computer do what is desired

COMPUTER LITERACY-
CURRICULUM TRENDS
Building
Skills
(Learning
Basic
Computer
Literacy
Tasks)
Application
(Applying
Technology to
Individual
Tasks)
Task
Integration
(Incorporating
Technology into
Overall
Curriculum).
?

INFORMATION LITERACY
Ability to
analyze, synthesize, evaluate, as
similate and use information

VISUAL LITERACY
Ability to interpret, understand and
appreciate visual messages;
communicate by applying principles
of visual design and produce visual
messages using the computer and
other technology.

New Technologies—
New Learning
Environments

NEW TECHNOLOGIES
ARE CHANGING . . .
The way we live
The way we communicate
The way we do business
And the way we learn

ICT TOOLS IN EDUCATION
Computers can enhance teaching and
learning in many ways
For drill and practice
As a tutor
As a productivity tool
To access resources outside the classroom
To simulate real-world situations
To promote problem solving skills
To collaborate and share ideas with others

TECHNOLOGY AS A CATALYST
FOR LEARNING
1.Technology promotes active engagement
Students learn best when they are actively
engaged in their learning, and technology
has the potential to engage students in
challenging, open-ended activities in
which they have control over the pace and
direction of their learning.

2. Technology promotes independence
When students have access to the rich
resources on the Internet and can
communicate with others via e-mail, they
become more independent in their learning.
3. Technology promotes collaboration
Teachers who use technology in the
classroom find that their role shifts from
being ―the sage on the stage‖ to being ―the
guide on the side,‖ and the classroom
environment becomes less teacher-directed
and more student-centered

TRADITIONAL LEARNING VS.
NEW LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Teacher-centered instruction  Student-centered instruction
Passive learning  Active learning
Primarily words and text  Multimedia
One path  Multiple paths
Individual work  Collaborative work
Delivery of information  Exchange of information
Focus on facts and knowledge  Critical thinking and problem solving
Artificial “school” context  Authentic real-world context
Assessment by testing  Authentic assessment

THE TRADITIONAL LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT IS TEACHER-
CENTERED
Univ,
Professor
Library
Student
Student
StudentStudent
Student

THE NEW LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT IS STUDENT-
CENTERED
Student
Library
Professor
Internet
Other
schools
Other
students
Class

ROLES IN NEW LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT
 Teacher becomes a:
◦ Facilitator
◦ Coach
◦ Guide
◦ Co-learner
 Student becomes a:
◦ Information seeker
◦ Explorer
◦ Problem solver
◦ Co-teacher

REASONS WHY YOU MUST STUDY
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (A
FEW LISTED)
We live in a global village.
We live in an era characterized by
transmittal of information.
Our work constantly requires
knowledge in computers.
Our daily lives will revolve around use
of computer as a tool.

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